Asset Publisher

Spectrum of the quasar APM 08279+5255, showing iron-cloud traces

Spectrum of the quasar APM 08279+5255, showing iron-cloud traces


Copyright: ESA, Graphics: MPE

The left picture shows a photo of the quasar, taken by XMM-Newton. The dip in the spectrum of the quasar APM 08279+5255 is caused by the element iron. In a same way that our bones appear dark in X-ray photographs because they are opaque to X-rays, the outflowing iron clouds of APM 08279+5255 are opaque for X-rays that are created at the quasar's centre. At the 'absorption energy' characteristic for iron (marked by the red arrow), some part of the X-ray light is missing.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
View »
5-Dec-2024 02:49 UT

ShortUrl Portlet

Shortcut URL

https://sci.esa.int/s/8Dqmo3A

Latest Selection

Also Available As

No other resolutions available.

Related Images

Related Videos

Related Publications

Related Links

See Also

Documentation